EU-Japan summit via video conference, 27 May 2021

27.05.2021
Brussels

EU News 135/2021

Main results

The 27th EU-Japan summit was held via video conference on 27 May 2021.

The EU was represented by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Japan was represented by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

The leaders adopted a joint statement.

The EU and Japan are united in their cooperation based on shared values and principles, including freedom, respect for human rights, democracy, the rule of law, free and fair trade, effective multilateralism and the rules-based international order. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the EU-Japan strategic partnership.

The leaders' discussions at the summit centred around three main pillars: global issues, bilateral relations, and foreign and security policy.

Climate change and the environment

The leaders launched the EU-Japan Green Alliance, which will boost coordinated efforts on both sides to accelerate climate and environmental action. Through this alliance, the EU and Japan will deepen their cooperation on:

  • the energy transition
  • environmental protection
  • regulatory and business cooperation
  • research and development
  • sustainable finance
  • facilitating the transition in third countries
  • Moreover, the EU and Japan will work together and with others to achieve the most ambitious outcomes at the COP26 on climate in November, and an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework at the COP15 on biodiversity in October.

COVID-19

The leaders reaffirmed their determination to defeat the pandemic. They recognised immunisation as a global public good and expressed their support for universal, equitable and affordable access to safe, effective and quality-assured COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics and treatments.

Highlighting both sides' substantial contributions to COVAX, they welcomed the EU’s leading role as a supplier of vaccines around the world, including to Japan. The leaders committed to working towards the expansion of vaccine production and keeping supply chains open and called for unnecessary export and travel restrictions not to be implemented.

(…)

Foreign and security policy

Indo-Pacific region

The leaders agreed to enhance cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, based on the rule of law and democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion. They will seek to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN in the region and will also work with the South Asian and Pacific Island countries.

The leaders expressed their serious concern about the situation in the East and South China Seas and strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions.


See also